Wildlife injuries are often human-caused – and we can help

Most wild animals that arrive at Wild ARC are in trouble because of something related to human activity. Perhaps a free-roaming outdoor cat caught them, or a car hit them, or they struck a window. They could be poisoned, shot, or tangled in fishing line. Wild animals face many dangers in our urban landscape, and our cities are growing quickly. We can help wildlife affected by our activities and make up for some of these negative by-products of urban life.

Photo credit: Anne Gransden

Rehabilitation supports wildlife conservation

Wildlife rehabilitators focus on individual animals rather than populations. This doesn’t mean that the goals of wildlife rehabilitation are at odds with wildlife conservation though. When animals in need of help are a threatened or endangered species, returning even just one animal to a population can make a difference.

Wildlife rehabilitators develop skills and knowledge that can be used to ensure success in species recovery programs, or to help wildlife recover from a large-scale oil spill. We are also vocal advocates for both wild animals and their habitat – there is no point in rehabilitating wildlife if there is no intact environment for them to return to.

Photo credit: Tania Simpson

Rehabilitation decreases suffering

We hope to return every wild animal to its natural environment, but it is not always possible to save every patient. Often their injuries are too severe, or their illness has progressed too far, for us to help them recover. In these cases, we have the ability to end their suffering with compassion by providing humane euthanasia. Without wildlife rehabilitators, well-meaning members of the public would try to care for wild animals at home. These attempts often result in increased pain and suffering and are ultimately unsuccessful.

Photo credit: Britt Swoveland

Communities value wildlife rehabilitation

We are a non-profit organization and do not receive core government funding. Donations from members of the public form the base of our support, highlighting the important role wildlife rehabilitation plays in local communities. We offer many ways to fund our work, and every contribution helps us save more wild lives.